Anatomically adaptive joint protector

ABSTRACT

A joint protector, such as an elbow protector, includes a first protective section attached to a second protective section by a flexible connector. The flexible connector allows the first protective section, such as a triceps section, to expand, extend, hinge, articulate, or pivot relative to the second protective section, such as an elbow section. The joint protector provides enhanced fit and freedom of movement to a user, while maintaining coverage and protection.

BACKGROUND

Muscle groups expand, contract, and change form during movement in sports and other activities, including when swinging a baseball bat, for example. In contrast, existing protective gear for arms, elbows, or similar body parts tends to stay in one shape or form during use, which creates uncomfortable and constrictive pressure points when the muscles change form. For example, existing arm and elbow protection for a batter does not adapt to changes in muscle form during the action of swinging a bat.

SUMMARY

A joint protector, such as an elbow protector, includes a first protective section attached to a second protective section by a flexible connector. The flexible connector allows the first protective section, such as a triceps section, to expand, extend, hinge, articulate, or pivot relative to the second protective section, such as an elbow section. The joint protector provides enhanced fit and freedom of movement to a user, while maintaining coverage and protection. Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter. The features described above can be used separately or together, or in various combinations of one or more of them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout the views:

FIGS. 1-3 are side, inside, and outside perspective views, respectively, of a guard in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are outside perspective views of a guard in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, positioned on an arm in an extended position and in a flexed position, respectively.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are side perspective views of a guard in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology, positioned on an arm in an extended position and in a flexed position, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present technology is directed to anatomically adaptive or anatomically expanding joint protectors for sports or other activities. Various embodiments of the technology will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments. Accordingly, the technology may have other embodiments with additional elements or without several of the elements described below with reference to FIGS. 1-7.

The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this detailed description section.

Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of items in the list. Further, unless otherwise specified, terms such as “attached” or “connected” are intended to include integral connections, as well as connections between physically separate components.

Specific details of several embodiments of the present technology are described herein with reference to arms and elbows, and with reference to batting in the games of baseball or softball. In other embodiments, the technology can be used to protect parts other than arms and elbows (such as legs, knees, or shoulders), or in conjunction with other sports or activities (such as hockey, lacrosse, or football).

The present technology provides a joint protector that expands, extends, hinges, pivots, or articulates around a joint to provide an enhanced fit and freedom of movement while maintaining coverage and protection. Examples of this technology are illustrated in FIGS. 1-7.

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a guard 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present technology. A first guard section or triceps section 110 is flexibly connected to a second guard section or elbow-cap section 120 through a flexible connecting section 130. The first guard section may also cover the brachialis, brachioradialis, or biceps regions of the arm but, for ease of description, will be referred to herein as a triceps section 110. The flexible connecting section 130 allows the triceps section 110 and the elbow-cap section 120 to anatomically expand, extend, hinge, articulate, or pivot with respect to each other. A first retaining strap 140 and a second retaining strap 150 may be attached to the guard 100 to secure it to a user.

In some embodiments, the triceps section 110 may include a triceps pad 115, which may be soft or rigid. Similarly, the elbow-cap section 120 may include an elbow cap pad 125, which may include a soft or rigid material. For example, the triceps pad 115 or elbow cap pad 125 may include a flexible, shock-absorbing foam.

In some embodiments, the triceps section 110 or the elbow-cap section 120 may include a covering material, such as Ariaprene™ or another synthetic rubber or cloth material. In other embodiments, other covering materials may be used, or covering materials may be omitted. The triceps section 110 may be covered with a different covering material than the elbow-cap section 120. And each of the triceps section 110 and the elbow-cap section 120 may include different covering or liner materials on the inside region (shown in FIG. 2, for example) than on the outside region (shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, for example). The one or more covering materials may be perforated or formed from moisture-wicking materials to reduce wetness from perspiration or to improve ventilation. The covering materials may also be provided with an ornamental design.

In some embodiments, the connecting section 130 may include an elastic mesh 135 positioned to provide a flexible connection between the triceps section 110 and the elbow-cap section 120, such that the triceps section 110 and the elbow-cap section 120 may move or pivot relative to each other. In other embodiments, the connecting section 130 may include other flexible or elastic materials capable of providing articulation between the triceps section 110 and the elbow-cap section 120. The connecting section 130 may be bound to the triceps section 110 or the elbow-cap section 120 using a binding 138, which may include a flexible or elastic material, and which may include stitching. Other attachments between sections of the guard 100 may also include stitching. In other embodiments, other bindings or stitching may be used on the guard 100.

In some embodiments, the guard 100 may include a loop or D-ring 145, through which the first retaining strap 140 may pass to retain the guard 100 on the user. In some embodiments, the D-ring 145 may be attached proximate to the connecting section 130. In other embodiments, the D-ring 145 may be attached to other parts or sections of the guard 100. The strap 140 may include a fastener, which may include a hook-and-loop fastening material such as Velcro®. For example, hook material 146 may be positioned on an end of the strap 140 while corresponding loop material 147 may be positioned on another portion of the strap 140. In other embodiments, the hook material and the loop material may be in different positions, or other fasteners may be used. The strap 140 may include a strap-grip portion or patch 148, which may be formed from a polyurethane material or other material suitable for grasping by a user.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the second retaining strap 150 may be a sleeve to securely maintain contact between the elbow-cap section 120 and the user. The sleeve may include an elastic mesh material 155 or another suitable material.

Turning now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the guard 100 is shown on an arm 400 of a user. In FIG. 4, the arm 400 is in an extended position. In FIG. 5, the arm 400 is in a flexed position. The guard 100 may be anatomically formed to match the general shape of the arm 400. In other embodiments of the technology, the guard 100 may be anatomically formed to match the general shape of other body parts of a user.

With specific reference to FIG. 5, arrows 500 demonstrate the expansion or stretching of connecting section 130 in particular, and of the guard 100 in general, as the arm 400 moves from an extended to a flexed position. Thus, as described above, as the muscle groups in the arm 400 expand, contract, or change form, the guard 100 conforms to the user's anatomy, while straps 140 and 150 (shown in FIGS. 1-3) help retain the guard 100 on the arm 400 so that the elbow-cap section 120 can articulate with respect to the triceps section 110 to ensure coverage and protection of the elbow.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the elbow-cap section 120 may overlap with the triceps section 110 to provide coverage and protection of the joint area (for example, the elbow) even when the connecting section 130 is stretched or extended. Thus, when the elbow-cap section 120 moves away from the triceps section 110 (such as, for example, when the arm 400 is flexed), the elbow remains covered and protected.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an embodiment of the guard 100 in operation. As the user's arm 400 moves from an extended position (FIG. 6) to a flexed position (FIG. 7), the elbow-cap section 120 maintains coverage of the elbow region of the arm 400 (which can include at least a portion of the brachialis, brachioradialis or biceps regions), while the connecting section 130 in particular, and the guard 100 in general, adapts to the changing form of the underlying muscle groups. Thus, the triceps section 110, the elbow-cap section 120, and the connecting section 130 anatomically expand, extend, hinge, articulate, or pivot relative to one another to maintain coverage and protection of the underlying portions of the arm 400.

When sized appropriately for a user, the guard 100 eliminates or substantially eliminates gaps between the arm 400 and the guard 100 to reduce impact vulnerability for a user. The flexible materials of the triceps section 110 and the elbow-cap section 120—optionally including shock-absorbing foam, covering materials, liners, and other suitable materials—allow the guard 100 to adjust to changes in the muscle groups located beneath the guard 100, thus facilitating freedom of movement and comfort while maintaining coverage and protection.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the technology, and elements of certain embodiments may be interchanged with those of other embodiments. For example, the straps 140 or 150 may both be sleeves (such as in the description of strap 150 above), or they may both be elastic straps with fasteners (such as in the description of strap 140 above). In other embodiments, one of the straps may be omitted, or additional straps may be included. In some embodiments, the guard 100 may be configured or positioned to protect body parts other than an arm or an elbow.

Further, while advantages associated with certain embodiments of the disclosed technology have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the technology. Accordingly, the disclosure and associated technology may encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein, and the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A guard for protecting a joint area of a body part, the guard comprising: a first guard section attached to a first portion of a flexible connecting section; a second guard section attached to a second portion of the flexible connecting section, the second portion being positioned generally opposite the first portion; a first strap attached to the first guard section, the first strap positioned to releasably retain the first guard section to the body part on a first side of the joint; and a second strap attached to the second guard section, the second strap positioned to retain the second guard section to the body part on a second side of the joint; wherein the flexible connecting section facilitates movement of the first guard section relative to the second guard section.
 2. The guard of claim 1 wherein the body part is an arm, the joint area is an elbow area, the first guard section is a triceps section configured to cover a triceps region of the arm, and the second guard section is an elbow cap configured to cover the elbow area.
 3. The guard of claim 1 wherein the second strap comprises a sleeve.
 4. The guard of claim 1 wherein the flexible connecting section comprises a stretchable material.
 5. The guard of claim 1 wherein the first strap comprises a first fastener part and a second fastener part, wherein the first strap is positioned to pass through a loop attached to the guard, and wherein the first fastener part is positioned to fasten to the second fastener part.
 6. The guard of claim 1 wherein the first guard section is attached to a first edge portion of the flexible connecting section, and the second guard section is attached to a second edge portion of the flexible connecting section.
 7. An anatomically adaptive elbow protector, comprising: a triceps section; an elbow section; a flexible connecting section attached to the triceps section and the elbow section, the flexible connecting section facilitating relative movement between the triceps section and the elbow section; and at least one retaining element attached to the elbow protector and positioned to retain the elbow protector to an arm.
 8. The elbow protector of claim 7 wherein at least one of the triceps section or the elbow section comprises a flexible, shock-absorbing foam.
 9. The elbow protector of claim 7 further comprising a retaining sleeve, wherein the retaining element is positioned to retain the triceps section to a triceps region of the arm, and wherein the retaining sleeve is positioned to retain the elbow section to an elbow region of the arm.
 10. The elbow protector of claim 9 wherein the retaining sleeve comprises an elastic mesh material.
 11. The elbow protector of claim 7 further comprising a loop attached to the triceps section or the elbow section, wherein the at least one retaining element comprises a releasable fastener, and wherein the at least one retaining element is positioned to pass through the loop.
 12. The elbow protector of claim 7 wherein at least a portion of a surface of the elbow protector comprises a layer of synthetic rubber.
 13. The elbow protector of claim 7 wherein the connecting section comprises an elastic material positioned to stretch when the arm is in a flexed position, and wherein the elastic material is positioned to shrink when the arm returns from the flexed position to an extended position.
 14. The elbow protector of claim 7 wherein an interior side of the elbow protector comprises a liner.
 15. An anatomically adaptive guard for protecting a body part, the guard comprising: a first guard section; a second guard section connected to the first guard section by a flexible connector; a first retaining element positioned to secure the first guard section to the body part; and a second retaining element positioned to secure the second guard section to the body part.
 16. The guard of claim 15 wherein the first and second guard sections each comprise a pad positioned to absorb impacts on the body part.
 17. The guard of claim 15 wherein the first retaining element comprises a strap.
 18. The guard of claim 17 wherein the strap is positioned to releasably encircle the body part.
 19. The guard of claim 18 wherein the strap comprises a fastener, the guard comprises a loop, and wherein the strap is positioned to pass through the loop to retain the first guard section proximate the body part.
 20. The guard of claim 15 wherein the second retaining element comprises a sleeve. 